Review: NISEKOI: False Love Volume 25

NISEKOI: FALSE LOVE, VOL. 25
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

MANGAKA: Naoshi Komi
TRANSLATION: Camellia Nieh
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
EDITORS: John Bae; Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9515-3; paperback (January 2018), Rated “T” for “Teen”
264pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S. $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Nisekoi is a shonen manga from creator Naoshi Komi (Double Arts).  The manga was serialized in the Japanese manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, from 2011 to 2016.  VIZ Media published an English-language adaptation of the manga as a graphic novel series, Nisekoi: False Love, beginning in January 2014.  VIZ released the twenty-fifth and final volume of the series this past January.

Nisekoi: False Love focuses on high school students, Raku Ichijo and Chitoge Kirisaki.  Not only are the two enemies, but their fathers are also the heads of rival yakuza syndicates.  In order to keep a gang war from starting, Raku (Shuei-Gumi) and Kirisaki (Beehive) act as if they are a teen couple in love.  In fact, Raku is also searching for his childhood sweetheart, and wears a pendant lock around his neck, a memento of the promise he made to a mystery girl 10 years ago.  Chitoge is one of four young ladies who could be the mystery girl.

As Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 25 (subtitled False Love – Chapters 218 to 228 to “final story”) opens, the search for the missing Chitoge stops at Tenku Highland.  Through a series of flashbacks and recovered memories, the girl to whom Raku Ichijo pledged marriage will be revealed.

The Nisekoi: False Love manga has come to a conclusion.  Some characters had already been forced to deal with the fact that they were part of a love triangle.  Now, some will have to accept that they are not the chosen one.

Nisekoi: False Love Graphic Novel Volume 25 is a bit melancholy.  A fun manga has come to an end.  After all, this series could have run on for a long time, simply spotlighting supporting characters and both romantic and non-romantic story lines.

The fact that the hero, Raku, has finally had to choose one of two excellent heroines is testament to the wonderful characters created by series creator, Naoshi Komi.  I will not offer spoilers, but while the finale promises wedding bells, and the story has a couple ready for marriage...  So Nisekoi: False Love is worthy of being read by new manga readers for years to come.

9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You'


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------------

Nisekoi: Bouquet

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 11

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter and Tumblr or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Nisekoi: Shu's Crush

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 10

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Nisekoi: Kamikaze

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 9

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Nisekoi: Last Minute

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 8

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

Nisekoi: She'll Be Home for Christmas

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 7

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

Nisekoi: False Love - Typhoon

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 5: Typhoon

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

Nisekoi: False Love - Making Sure

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 4: Making Sure

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is calling for donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

Nisekoi: What’s in a Name?

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 3: What's in a Name?

I posted a review at the ComicBookbin, which is fundraising.  You can follow me on Twitter and view my Indiegogo campaign.

Nisekoi: Zawsze in Love

I read Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 2: Zawsze in Love

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Review: NISEKOI: False Love Volume 1

NISEKOI: FALSE LOVE, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Naoshi Komi
TRANSLATION: Camellia Nieh
LETTERS: Stephen Dutro
ISBN: 978-1-4215-5799-1; paperback (January 2014), Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S. $12.99 CAN

Double Arts was the first title manga creator Naoshi Komi had serialized in Japan’s manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump.  His current Weekly Shonen Jump series is Nisekoi, which also appears in North America in VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump digital manga magazine.

Nisekoi: False Love focuses on Raku Ichijo.  There are two things to know about him that are important.  Raku was born into a yakuza family, and he is searching for his childhood sweetheart.  Ten years ago, he met a girl, and they declared that they would meet as adults and marry.  The sign of their promise is a pendant lock around his neck as a memento, for which the girl has the key.  Years later, Raku can’t even remember the girl’s name or face, and now, a new relationship threatens Raku’s promise.

As Nisekoi: False Love, Vol. 1 (subtitled The Promise – Chapters 1 to 7) opens, Raku is getting ready for school and dealing with the yakuza members that crowd his life at home.  Today, however, there is going to be a surprise when Raku meets his newest classmate, Chitoge Kirisaki.  It is hate at first sight (and a knee-to-the-head at first sight) when the two meet, but they are more alike than not.  Both their fathers are yakuza!

Unfortunately for the new rivals, Raku’s gangster father has made a shocking arrangement with Chitoge’s criminal father, Adelt Kirisaki Wagner.  In order to maintain peace between their fathers’ warring yakuza factions, Raku and Chitoge enter into a false love match.  The problem is that Raku and Chitoge can barely stand each other.

When I first heard of the Nisekoi: False Love manga, I did not realize that it was supposed to be a comedy.  When VIZ Media sent me a copy of Nisekoi: False Love Volume 1 for review, I was pleased to discover that it is indeed funny.

The leads, Raku Ichijo and Chitoge Kirisaki, are funny not just because of their predicament, forced to date each other to avert a gang war, but also because of their personalities. Raku knows what he wants, but he’s a simpering coward when it comes to being honest about his romantic feelings; it would be too simple if he were merely shy – and not as funny.  Chitoge is stubborn and too proud; both make her lash out at everyone, and so she has a hard time making friends.  She is full of fury and mostly impotent.

Their different goals and personalities mean the two characters clash, but creator Naoshi Komi offers his readers a treat.  The two teens have something in common, but Komi is going to have fun making the good part of them shine through the crass and selfish exteriors.  Nisekoi: False Love has potential.  Readers looking for romance in a shonen vein will want to try Nisekoi: False Love.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.